Team India captain Rohit Sharma has refuted recent media reports claiming he met with head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar to discuss the T20 World Cup squad. It was also reported that out of form Hardik Pandya will be left out of the squad.
Sharma Labels Reports as “Fake News”
According to allegations that have circulated in recent days, a two-hour meeting in Mumbai was held to make critical choices about the World Cup. These included Hardik Pandya’s bowling frequency for selection and a possible opening partnership with Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Sharma categorically refuted the charges, calling them “fake.” He asked supporters to exercise caution and rely solely on official communications from himself, Dravid, Agarkar, or the BCCI. “We haven’t met, to be honest,” he said. He further explained the locations of the other persons involved, indicating that Agarkar was in Dubai and Dravid was in Bengaluru, seeing his son play cricket.
Hardik Pandya’s Form is a Separate Concern:
Sharma denied the claims made about the selection meeting, although he left out any mention of Hardik Pandya’s form. Pandya has had difficulty this season with the bat and the ball. He took over as captain of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 from Sharma. He has only claimed three wickets, while his bowling average has increased to 12 runs per over.
As the T20 World Cup draws near, the mystery surrounding the selection meeting and Pandya’s performance heightens the anticipation.